Barsanti appointed to Kane County's felony courts

ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP – A familiar face is headed to the Kane County Judicial Center to assume a top spot in the county’s courts.

Judge John Barsanti has been appointed as the next presiding judge over the Felony and Special Court Division.

The appointment of Barsanti, who served from 2004 to 2010 as Kane County state’s attorney, was included as part of a general order issued Thursday by Robert Spence, the county’s chief judge.

Barsanti had served as a judge in Kendall County since December 2010, when he was appointed by the Illinois State Supreme Court to the bench in the 16th Judicial Circuit at the recommendation of Justice Robert Thomas. Barsanti replaced retiring Judge Michael Colwell.

Barsanti is seeking election to the bench in November. He was unopposed in the Republican primary election in March, and is unopposed in the general election.

Neither Barsanti nor Spence returned messages left for them Monday.

Barsanti’s appointment comes as a result of a reshuffling of judicial courtroom assignments within Kane County after the retirement of three of the county’s longtime judges.

This fall, judges Timothy Sheldon, Allen Anderson and Robert Janes announced their retirement.

Sheldon, who serves as presiding judge over the county’s Felony and Special Court Division, and Anderson had presided over courtrooms on the third floor of the Kane County Judicial Center, where they tried some of the county’s complex criminal cases.

Barsanti is scheduled to take Sheldon’s courtroom effective Dec. 1.

Anderson will preside over his courtroom until Dec. 31.

The other felony courtrooms at the judicial center will be presided over by Judge Susan Clancy Boles, who is reassigned from the county judiciary’s Juvenile Division; Judge James Hallock; Judge Patricia Piper Golden; Judge Clint Hull; and Judge Marmarie Kostelny.

Boles will be replaced as presiding judge over the Juvenile Division by Judge Thomas Mueller.

Hallock will continue as presiding judge over the Traffic and Misdemeanor Division.

Judge Judith Brawka will remain as presiding judge over the county’s Civil Division.

And Judge John Noverini will continue as presiding judge over the Family Division.